Electrode cap



Jame 2%, 32& 3,674,887

J. H. CHANNON- ELECTRODE CA? 7 Filed April 26, 1924 33L. CHANNQN, GREG-AM, ELLJIHKHfi.

niiuornonn oer s neeem filed s in or current to an associated indicator as long as the electrolyte in the buttery continues at the proper level in contact With the elec trode portion of the device Attempts have been made to produce electrode cops by vulcanizine; n herd rubber cap portion. about the connection between e short lead rod end on insulated conducting Wire, Attempts have :ilso been made to produce electrode cups by axially aperturing the reguler herd rubber cop, placing one end of s short iced rod in the bottom end of the aperture placing? one end of en insulofted conducting Wire in the top end of the aperture in contact with the rod, end vuicenizing the assembly about the rod and wire to obtain. a, rigid structure Such elec-' trode' cops have not been sstisfectory, however since in each instance the insulation of the Wire adjacent the vulcanized portion of the electrode cap is decomposed by the heel; during the time required for vulcenizing end the acid with which the electrode cop comes in contact when in use attacks end repidly cuts through the wire Where the insolution is decomposed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an electrode cop wherein the constituent portions are so associated us to Withstand indefinitely the severe conditions incident to ordinery use,

Another important object of the inven tion is to provide a method of forming such an electrode cs whereby to achieve such an sssocietion oi the constituent portions While the foregoing stetinents ore indice= tive in u generel'vmy of the neture of the invention, other objects and sdventeges not specifically referred to in this disclosure will be obvious upon a full understsndin of both the electrode cop and. the metho of formin the some as set forth in the lolo escripcion end accompanying drawing wherein is presented what is now considered to be e preferred eniimern:v of the invention. It will be understood however that this articular embodiment is chosen primsrily or the purpose of exemplificstion and is not intended either to restrict in any Way the spirit of the inveniidl lc serial Flo. lllilfiilll.

tion or to limit unnecessarily the scope of the appended claims.

the drowingl is a side view of the electrode cap;

Fig, 2 is s top view of the some;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the some;

Fig 4: is u sectional View through a storage buttery equipped with the electrode cap; and

Fig; 5- is a sectional View through a mold in which the electrode cap has been formed.

Referring in detail to the drawing, it will be observed that the electrode cap of the invention is seliently characterized by e construction wherein the cop portion and the electrode portion 11 are integrally formed er s suitable electrode material, such as e lead elloy containing 94% percent lead 5 percent antimony and percent tin for flux The structural features of the one-piece electrode cup include o fist top 12 having a suitably knurled periphery, en extcriorly screw-threaded sleeve 13 extending down-- weirdly from the top 12, a cylindrical stud lululso extending downwardly from the top 12 concentric relation to the sleeve 13, an. insulated conducting Wire 15 extending upwardly from the top 12 with a bored end portion 1d of the Wire embedded Within the stud 141, a smell boss 1? also extending upwardly from the top 12 about the insulated portion 18 of the wire 15 adjoining the bored end portion 16 of the some, on onnuler splash cup 19 between the sleeve 13 end the stud 14, and on snguleted vent 20 leading upwardly from the splash cup 19 end opening luterully from the top 12. While the esp portion 10 of the electrode cup is shown in the present disclosure as having it screw-threaded surfsce forengngemerit in the screw-threaded filling aperture of a storage battery, it will be understood thnt such surface may be otherwise shaped to lit the securing means in the aperture of any battery.

The manner in which the electrode cap is used with a storage buttery is clenrly illustrated in Figure 42, wherein it will be observed thet the cap portion 10 efiectively closes the fillin aperture 21 of the battery and the electr e portion 11 extends into the electrolyte 22 of the battery to a point corre- Til till

wi l

spending to a, low level of the some. The i insulated conducting wire 15 of the electrode cap is adapted to be connected at a remote point to an indicator, such as the dash lamp of an automobile when the electrode cap is being used in association with the storage battery of an automobile. It will be understood that, as long as the electrolyte in the battery remains at a proper level and in contact with the electrode portion 11, current will flow from the electrode portion 11 throughthe wire 15, the lamp will be illuminated, or may be upon actuation of a suitable switch, and that, when the electrolyte falls below a proper level and out of contact with the electrode ortion 11, the lamp will not be illuminate which indicates that the battery is in need of water.

The method of forming the electrode cap consists in extending the Wire 15 upwardly into the chamber of a sectional mold 23,

sha ed to correspond to the inverted electro e cap, to a position wherein the insulated portion 18 of the wire adjoining the end portion 16 is in that portionof the mold shaped to form the boss 17 and pouring the molten electrode material into the mold and about the bared and insulated portions of the wire exposed therein. The vent 20 is formed at the same time by suitably shaped projections in the mold. By molding the electrode cap in the manner described, as distinguished from die casting, the electrode cap solidifies almost instantl upon being poured and the heat from the limited amount of material forming the boss 17 about the insulated portion .18 of the wire is dissipated so rapidly that the insulation on the wire portion 18 is not destroyed.

The resulting electrode cap presents a structure which is entirel aci -proof, since the insulation on the con ucting wire is not memes? aflee'ted during the formation of the elec trode cap and consequently encloses completely all portions of the wire at the junction between the same and the electrode cap. The electrode cap may be produced at a very low cost, since butone simple operation is required in its production.

I claim:

1. An electrode cap of the character described, including a cap portion and an electrode portion which are integrally formed of lead, and an insulated conducting wire having a bared end" portion embedded in the formation.

2. An electrode cap of the character described, including a cap portion and an electrode portion which are integrally formed of lead, and an insulated conducting wire having a bared end portion embedded in the formation and an insulated adjoining portion in contact with the formation.

3. An electrode cap of the character described, including a cap portion and an electrode portion which are integrally formed of lead, and an insulated conducting wire having a bared end portion embedded in the formation and an insulated adjoining portion also embedded in the formation.

4. An electrode cap of the character described, including a cap portion and an electrode portion which are integrally formed of lead, and an insulated conducting wire having a bared end portion embedded in the formation, said cap portion having an up- Wardly projecting boss in which an insulated portion of the wire adjoining the bared end portion is embedded. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES H. CHANNON. 

